Laker Lines, Friday, Jan. 6, 2012

A New Loch at Clayton State?
Every university has its legends. At Clayton State University, the most famous is the Legend of Loch.
It all started in the winter of 1969, when the construction crews were digging to make room for the dam at the far end of what would become the Clayton State campus’ Swan Lake. Deep below the surface they discovered what was initially thought to be a large piece of rock. But, it wasn’t, it was actually a large chunk of ice.
Work resumed, and the huge ice block was left lying off to the side. However, returning to the dam after their lunch break, the workers were astonished to find the ice had split in two, exposing a large hollow within the ice, as if something had hatched from within. Although questions like, “what had been let loose?” began to surface, nothing more was heard or seen for some 20 years.
Then, in 1990, the Office of Public Safety was doing some filming on campus and saw on tape a large, shadowy creature walking amongst the trees and disappearing into the lake. This generated a while new series of questions, notably, what animal could walk upright and then live underwater as well?
The answer, of course, turned out to be Loch, who has been a legend on campus, in several different iterations and generation, ever since. Most of Loch’s many sightings have been at soccer and basketball games, as well as other official university student functions.
However, as recently as September 2009, there have been other mysterious sightings of a large aquatic creature in Swan Lake. And, no, it’s not a swan, and it’s not a goose. The aforementioned instance involved University Relations Photojournalist Erin Fender doing some investigative reporting on a large creature that had been seen off and on for several weeks, usually skimming on top of the water. Fender eventually captured the creature’s image, thus avoiding a potential controversy ala Loch’s namesake in Scotland.
That photo was studied by Clayton State’s resident expert on aquatic biology, Dr. Christopher Kodani, who pronounced the creature to be a large grass carp. Ah, but new evidence has recently surfaced (so to speak), leading Kodani to re-think his evaluation. His latest theory is… it’s a NEW Loch.
“There must be something that brought it here,” he says. “With Valentine’s Day coming up, perhaps Loch is here trying to find a suitable mate? If not for a mate, then perhaps a need for food brought Loch to Clayton State, a need which would hopefully be satiated by a visit to the Lakeside Dining Hall in the Baker Center. Or, if Loch isn’t feeling well, maybe it’s just looking for University Health Services.”
Whatever the motive, Kodani feels quite certain that there’s new Loch on campus, one that’s just waiting to be discovered. Given this expert opinion, Fender has been back on the trail of Loch with her trusty Nikon, attempting to get to the bottom of, if not Swan Lake, the new Loch. While Fender continues to investigate, and the Office of Public Safety also keeps an eye out for new sightings, Kodani is trying to unravel the puzzle scientifically.
“There could be many scientific hypotheses to explain Loch,” he poses. “Is there a mom and dad Loch somewhere; perhaps he’s an international student from Japan; we all know his famous cousin, Godzilla.”
If, on the other hand, Loch is not related to the famous Japanese fire-breathing dinosaur, Kodani has some other theories.
“It’s unlikely that the primordial ooze at the bottom of Swan Lake gave him life; too much antifreeze running off from the parking lots, and living things tend to come from other living things,” he points out. “Clearly, such a large animal must be a vertebrate, and maybe he evolved from fish or amphibians — due to mutations caused by the fluids leaking from faculty cars!
“Maybe the reptilian Loch even evolved from the swans and geese — an example of how ancient, hidden genes sometimes express themselves, as is seen in the occasional three-toed horse or the recently discovered dolphin that has hind legs! Or, was Loch a science experiment gone horribly awry; the subject of an evil scientist who was trying to genetically engineer a super student who could actually pass the upper division science classes!”
This last theory has some logic, especially since Kodani also speculates that perhaps the experiment in question succeeded!
In any case, investigative work on the new Loch is on-going. A new email address, lochsightings@clayton.edu, has been set up to report any new sightings, so stay tuned for further information. Speculation has it that the new Loch may be waiting for Clayton State’s Homecoming (Feb. 18) to make an official appearance.
DRC Announces Reduction of Paper Forms for Students with Disabilities
In an effort to be environmentally friendly, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) will be reducing the number of printed items that previously accompanied students’ Accommodation Letters each semester.
Students will still be instructed to make appointments and provide each of their professors with paper copies of their Accommodation Letter. These letters verify students’ DRC-approved accommodations. Students will also continue to request signatures on a “Master Copy” of the Accommodation Letter, confirming that the professor has received a copy of that letter.
Several non-confidential forms that were previously provided each semester on paper will now appear only on our website. These include (1) the Testing Accommodation Form, (2) a description of various accommodations and classroom implementation and (3) a description of testing options for students who required accommodations.
The Testing Accommodation Form (TAF) may still be completed online at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/disability/atform.htm or, if you prefer, at the same site you may print a TAF which can be delivered or faxed to our office.
The other informational forms will now be available in the Faculty/Staff section of the DRC website at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/disability/resources.htm.
As always, we welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you might have and are available to address your concerns. Please feel free to contact us at (678) 466-5445 or DisabilityResourceCenter@clayton.edu.
UHS Offers Two Payment Plans
University Health Services (UHS) continues to offer health care to Clayton State faculty and staff, however, we now offer two payment plans. Faculty and staff can now:

Either pay $60 per semester for unlimited visits or

2. Pay $20 per visit
UHS functions as a full primary care clinic. We also offer over the counter medications and non-controlled prescription medications, such as antibiotics. We also offer full lab services and accept other health care providers lab orders, such as fasting blood work.
The UHS staff prides itself on excellent patient care and fast, friendly, and convenient service.
Our doors open at 7 a.m., Monday through Friday. Please see our website for more information: http://nursing.clayton.edu/uhs/.
Loch Shop Announces Survey Winners
Loch Shop Manager Todd Smith has announced the winners of the random drawing for participants in the recent Loch Shop survey:
Alberta Moore $50 gift card
Alexander Foss $25 gift card
Susan Fitten $25 gift card
Annual P-card Training Now Online
Annual P-card refresher training is now online.
The mandatory training is now more convenient and efficient for everyone. You can review the Powerpoint at your desk in less than 20 minutes.
There is an additional step to the training which requires you to take a brief 20 question test immediately after viewing the Powerpoint. You must score 80 percent or better in order to successfully complete P-card training. You will have three opportunities to make a passing score.
Once you complete the training and test, you will receive additional reference guides from Procurement Services.
Navigation to P-card Online Refresher Training:
Please go to www.clayton.eduàAcademic Programs àTechnology àGeorgia View
For faculty: You can access Georgia View through the SWAN
Click on P-card Online Training – P-card Refresher Online Training à Purchasing Card Training.
After reviewing the Power point, click on P-card Test #1 to begin the 20 question test.
The deadline to complete the training and test is close of business, Feb. 10, 2012.
Biweekly Payroll Reminder
Notice to all employees and managers/supervisors: Due to the centralization of payroll services, approvals of all biweekly time must be approved by 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 6, for the payroll ending on Jan. 6.
Upcoming EventsCollege of Business Ribbon Cutting and Signage Unveiling, Jan. 9
The College of Business invites faculty, staff, students and the public to the ribbon cutting and signage unveiling ceremony announcing the renaming of the College of Business. The ceremony will be held on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012 at 10 a.m., on the landing of the College of Business. Light refreshments will be served immediately following the ceremony.
To RSVP, contact Valencia Cantrell at (678) 466-4528 or valenciacantrell@clayton.edu.